CUPERTINO — The annual Cherry Blossom Festival honoring Cupertino’s sister city of Toyokawa will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Memorial Park, Stevens Creek Boulevard and Mary Avenue in Cupertino.
The event offers a wide selection of Japanese food and beverages, entertainment, demonstrations, cultural exhibits, art, crafts and clothing for sale. All-day entertainment takes place in the Amphitheatre.
The festival benefits the non-profit Cupertino Sister City Committee, which promotes friendship and student exchange programs between the two cities. Local non-profit organizations that support services for disadvantaged youth, sports, music and language programs will have booths that raise funds for their activities.
For further information, call Asif Kausar, festival coordinator, at (408) 940-5287 or visit the website at www.cupertinotoyokawa.org.
Outdoor Program at Memorial Park Amphitheater
Saturday, April 26
11 a.m.: Opening remarks by Bill Nishimoto, master of ceremonies
11:05 a.m.: Sunnyvale Suzuki Violinists (children’s group)
11:35 a.m.: Maikaze Taiko
12:10 p.m.: Welcome remarks and introduction of visiting dignitaries and 2014 Cupertino Unified School District student delegation and chaperones
12:35 p.m.: Cupertino Fine Arts Commission: “Honoring and Building Community”
12:40 p.m.: San Jose Taiko
1:25 p.m.: Yu-Ai-Kai Karaoke/Dance Group
1:50 p.m.: Satsuma Dojo (karate)
2:20 p.m.: Northern California Naginata Federation
2:50 p.m.: Cupertino Judo Club
3:20 p.m.: Aikido of Silicon Valley
3:50 p.m.: Halau Na Wai Ola/Island Moves (hula)
4:10 p.m.: Watsonville Taiko
4:50 p.m.: Closing remarks by Bill Nishimoto
Sunday, April 27
11 a.m.: Opening remarks by Bill Nishimoto
11:05 a.m.: JKR Okaigan Dojo (children’s karate)
11:30 a.m.: Palo Alto Kendo
12 p.m.: Western Aikido Yosho Kai
12:30 p.m.: Stanford Taiko
1:15 p.m.: Kodenkan Jujitsu Dojo
1:45 p.m.: Azama Honryu Seifu Ichisenkai Mototake Kinuko Okinawan Dance Academy
2:10 p.m.: Cupertino Judo Club
2:40 p.m.: Aikido of Silicon Valley
3:10 p.m.: Okinawa Eisa Shima-Daiko (dance and drum)
3:30 p.m.: Emeryville Taiko Group
4:15 p.m.: Closing remarks by Bill Nishimoto
Indoor Program in Quinlan Community Center
Saturday, April 26
10 a.m.: NSG Colleges Japanese Speech Contest
11:30 a.m.: Aloha Nani Hula Dancers
12 p.m.: Kiyonomoto Ryu (classical dance)
12:45 p.m.: Nijikko Club (children’s dance group)
1:20 p.m.: NSG Colleges Japanese Speech Contest award presentation
1:45 p.m.: Shirley Kazuyo Muramoto Koto Studio
2:50 p.m.: Aikido of San Jose
3:30 p.m.: Wesley Ukulele Band
4:10 p.m.: Mixed Chorus Kakehashi
Sunday, April 27
11:30 a.m.: Japanese tea ceremony demonstration
12 p.m.: Japanese Art & Cultural Center — karate (Yushin-juku), kendo (Yushin-juku) and kyudo (archery)
12:50 p.m.: Essence (shakuhachi ensemble)
1:30 p.m.: Studio Mai (traditional dance)
2:10 p.m.: Shamisen Fujimoto Hideki-Kai and students (traditional music)
2:45 p.m.: Yamato Buyo Kenkyusho (classical dance)
3:15 p.m.: Ryusei Honryu Chikaho-Kai (Okinawan dance and music)
3:55 p.m.: Fujin Raijin (instrumental ensemble)